The COW Method (Hair Related)

**PinkWolf** · 04-14-2009, 08:10 PM

C-COW-C (C - CO+W - C, C-"cow"-C, or C--C)
(can be pronounced in any of the above ways)

also known as "Doing the Moo" or "Moo Shampoo" (courtesy of a member on another forum named Wavelength)

This fusion method is basically a combination CO (conditioner wash), CWC (conditioner wash and conditioning) , and Dilution-a-la-Dave (diluting shampoo in plain water). The grease goes away, but the moisture can stay!

The method begins with the basic CWC, but it is modified by the addition of conditioner to your shampoo. Cutting shampoo this way added moisture and you get the best of both worlds (the CO and the CWC), since often times people can only go one way or the other. C-COW-C is a middle ground.

This method works best for the following kinds of people:
Those who itch from CO but would like a gentler method of cleansing anyway
Those who get too greasy from CO and have a difficult adjustment period - [may help] Those with dry scalp, but who still have dead skin buildup that can be removed only by a detergent (???).

You will need the same stuff you'd use for a CWC:
- The same C-onditioner you'd normally use for CO or CWC (e.g. any of the V05 regulars, any Suave Naturals, White Rain)
- your regular shampoo (W-ash)
- a plastic squeeze bottle, ~24 oz or less
- seamless rake comb, if you use one
- your favorite final C-onditioner

(1) The first C: Wet scalp and entire length. Work the light conditioner into your ends or into the "bottom half" of your hair.
(2) Make your COW cocktail: In a squeezie bottle, add 1 dose (a dose is your regular amount of shampoo) of shampoo and 1-2 heaping tbsp of the same light conditioner. Add 8-14 oz of water and shake well. This isn't scientific by any means. Some people could end up preferring less water, if they use less shampoo. As long as you end up with a nice cappuccino froth. Just today (02/16/2005) I made two separate COW cocktails, each one being about 6 oz. Each cocktail contained 1 tsp of C and a nickel-sized dollop of shampoo.
(3) Apply your COW cocktail: Squeeze contents onto wet scalp, massaging the scalp lightly as you would with a CO wash. Finger comb only in this step, even though there is conditioner involved.
(4) Rinse very VERY well.
(5) Apply your regular conditioner normally; generally from the ears down. Comb, rinse, etc.. as usual.

With this method, I get a "clean" feeling that still has the bounce of CO or CWC. This method does differ from CWC in practice, since the shampoo is made more gentle by the addition of light conditioner.

There hasn't been enough documentation of this method. If anyone has anything to add, I'll be happy to edit this entry.

**donsgal** · 04-14-2009, 11:47 PM

That is very interesting PinkWolf. I do not use any conditioner at all. I find that my hair stays clean much longer as conditioner tends to attract dirt. Since the average person uses more than 100 gallons of water a day in a world where water is fast becoming our most precious and wasted resource, it is good to know that I can get away with washing my hair every third day instead of every day. But then, I am fortunate to work in a job where "looks" don't count, so I don't have to worry about fixing my hair fancy every day.

donsgal

**frugal.lass** · 04-16-2009, 12:21 PM

I've never heard of the COW method before but I've been asked by many stylists if I would do hair modelling for them because my hair is in such good shape. Here's my hair care regime:

-I only shampoo the roots of my hair (where the sweat and scalp oils end up).
-I use a dab of conditioner which is applied to the ends of my hair (which don't get moisture from scalp oil...sounds gross but its true)
-I don't colour my hair (it's boring brown but at least its shiny and healthy WITHOUT me having to pay for products to give it a shiny and healthy "appearance").
-I rarely blow dry my hair (only if I'm flying and have a short call-out time)...it really dries your hair out and causes the hair cuticle to go all crazy (that frizzy, fly away look).
-Unless there is a special occasion (or if I'm sweaty from a workout), I tend to let my hair go 2-3 days between washes.

Pretty easy, eh? My hair is only shoulder length now but it's been longer in the past (4" past my shoulders) and I used the same care guidelines with the same results. My relatives are all big on dyeing their hair and since their hair is so processed I can't tell you if I'm just pre-disposed genetically to having "healthy hair".

**momof42003** · 05-03-2009, 03:41 AM

Hey there frugal.lass, I do about the same exact hair maintainance and I too get the comment that my hair is very healthy. The only thing I do different is that I do a full wash and conditioning all over. I have extremely thick hair and when it is near my waist this is still what I do. I rarely if ever have split ends.

**Michelle** · 05-03-2009, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by frugal.lass

I've never heard of the COW method before but I've been asked by many stylists if I would do hair modelling for them because my hair is in such good shape. Here's my hair care regime:

-I only shampoo the roots of my hair (where the sweat and scalp oils end up).
-I use a dab of conditioner which is applied to the ends of my hair (which don't get moisture from scalp oil...sounds gross but its true)
-I don't colour my hair (it's boring brown but at least its shiny and healthy WITHOUT me having to pay for products to give it a shiny and healthy "appearance").
-I rarely blow dry my hair (only if I'm flying and have a short call-out time)...it really dries your hair out and causes the hair cuticle to go all crazy (that frizzy, fly away look).
-Unless there is a special occasion (or if I'm sweaty from a workout), I tend to let my hair go 2-3 days between washes.

Pretty easy, eh? My hair is only shoulder length now but it's been longer in the past (4" past my shoulders) and I used the same care guidelines with the same results. My relatives are all big on dyeing their hair and since their hair is so processed I can't tell you if I'm just pre-disposed genetically to having "healthy hair".

Do you have "normal" hair (vs. oily or dry)? My hair is pretty oily, and I can't imagine going 2-3 days between washes.

**onencgirl** · 05-03-2009, 09:05 AM

I use the baking soda wash most of the time... never any conditioner. I can go about three days between washes.

**crunchycon** · 05-04-2009, 06:59 PM

I do the baking soda thing every other day with apple cider vinegar as a rinse. I might use a conventional conditioner on the ends once a week or so. Keeps my scalp from itching!

**cheles2kids** · 05-11-2009, 09:21 AM

PinkWolf, it's good to see another longhaircommunity.com forum member here!
For anyone interested there are tons, literally tons, of hair information there and you don't have to just be a 'longhair' to join.

Michelle, this method, like any other, all depends on your hair 'type' so if you have an oily scalp, more likely than not you'll need to wash more often.
There is also a line of thought that the type of shampoo you use can also cause excess oil on the scalp or hair.
But I personally think it has to do more with each individual person's own body/hair type.

I also only have to wash about twice a week during the wintertime, but during the summer I have to up this to about three times a week.
I cannot apply conditioner to my scalp, of any kind.
It will break it out every single time.

The CO method, that PinkWolf referenced, did awful things to my scalp after about the third try.

But I can see how, for those who can tolerate the conditioner on the scalp, that the COW method might help to keep more moisture in their hair.
Also during the summer I would assume it would also help keep the flyaways and frizz at bay, as well.

But for myself, I've found that If I only apply condtioner from my ears down, and I only shampoo my scalp with a diluted shampoo (regardless of the type of shampoo I use).
I never use a blow fryer and never, ever brush my hair while it's wet it seems to make my hair happier than any other method that I've tried.
Although I'm not prone to split ends, I do occasionally have one that will crop up.

**PinkWolf** · 09-20-2009, 08:47 PM

bumping for more responses

**trinaren** · 09-24-2009, 09:31 AM

I am interested in 'training' my hair so that I don't need to wash it everyday. Right now, if I miss a day, my hair gets really greasy looking. I think this might be because my hair is used to being shampooed. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to transition my hair?

**NewLeaf** · 09-24-2009, 09:56 AM

I just started the baking soda wash. My bangs are still getting oily but not as bad. Usually they are really greasy by the end of the day. Lately they still look ok in the morning, but I can't go all day without washing. Today I just washed the bangs w/baking soda and got the rest of my hair wet w/water only.

**Debbie-cat** · 09-24-2009, 10:26 AM

I have never washed my hair every day. It is too damaging to it. When I started skipping every other day, it only took about a week and you would never have been able to tell that I hadn't washed it that morning. Next time I wash my hair, I am going to try the baking soda method.

**Luckybustert** · 09-24-2009, 10:42 AM

My hair is one of the areas I'm less than frugal about. I have been using Wen for about 3 or 4 months, and my hairdresser has noticed it's making a huge difference. (She said "Whatever it is you're doing it, keep doing it - the ends of your hair are looking so much better.") Definitely expensive, though, so it'd be very cool to have a homemade recipe to make it myself and save some bucks.

**trinaren** · 09-25-2009, 02:45 PM

What's the baking soda wash?

**Charles C** · 09-27-2009, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by trinaren

What's the baking soda wash?

Ditto, I'm an old guy with a full head of hair, it's wavy. Right now I use the cheapest shampoo I can find, and don't need conditioner. I like my hair, think it looks great.

Butttt I want to save money, and is the baking soda and vinegar, a shampoo? Seems like you'd have to ad a little dishsoap to the mix. Heck maybe my organic garden spray would suffice

Well I would like a cheaper option